Sex predator lies in wait in woman's home

Police have released this phto-fit image of the Essendon sex attack suspect. Photo: Victoria Police

Police are searching for a man who lurked in the home of a woman in Melbourne’s inner north-west before sexually assaulting her in a brazen attack.

The woman, 26, was in her back garden about 5.45am last Friday and, after walking inside her home, a man confronted her in the bedroom of the Essendon house.

Detective Sergeant Troy Papworth said that the man sexually assaulted the woman before she managed to convince him to leave the Richardson Street house.

The man is believed to be of southern European appearance, with pale olive skin, 182 cm tall with a medium build and hazel eyes. He was wearing a black hooded jumper, jeans, was unshaven and believed to be aged between 25 and 30.

Detective Sergeant Papworth said the attack was ‘‘quite brazen’’.

‘‘Detectives are fairly concerned in relation to this incident,’’ he said.

The man is believed to have entered the house through an unlocked back door when the victim walked inside from the garden.

‘‘She was very shaken up at the time, very emotionally distraught,’’ said Detective Sergeant Papworth of the victim.

‘‘She was physically uninjured in relation to the assault, but very emotionally disturbed and she’s still quite shaken in relation to the incident.’’

He said police did not have any information to suggest the man was responsible for any other incidents or that there were any similar incidents in the area.

Detectives from the Fawkner sexual offences and child abuse investigation team have released a computer-generated image of a man they believe could help their investigation.

Anyone with information about the sexual assault or about the man's identity is asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.